Correspondent photos / Nancilynn Gatta Becky Onuska, bingo manager of HAP Bingo, calls bingo numbers to the more than 100 players during HAP Bingo on Friday night at Wedgewood Plaza in Austintown. An Aces Are Wild game was also played for the people who bought pull tabs and their number was called with a chance to win over $3,0000. The new jackpot is over $31,000 after no one won Friday.

AUSTINTOWN — “This is more than just a fundraiser for us, ” said Becky Onuska, HAP Bingo Manager, about the Friday night bingo game at HAP Bingo in the Wedgewood Plaza.

“This is also a way to help the community.”

As part of the night, Aces Are Wild pull tab cards are sold. From those cards, a participant is chosen to select a window from the Aces Are Wild board with the potential to see “sorry” or “jackpot,” which on Friday was more than $30,000.

“The pulltabs add more excitement to our bingo,” Onuska said.

Barb Hileman of Niles is a regular at the Friday night bingo. Last week, she brought her sister-in-law, hoping one of them would get a chance at the Aces Are Wild board.

Hileman explained all of the good works the bingo night does for the community.

“Becky collects nonperishable food and gives it to St. Edward’s food pantry. The people who bring the food get an extra bingo strip. Another time, one of the regular bingo players had a fire and we collected household items for them. I bought them some new items,” Hileman said.

The bingo night was originally called HAP for Holy Apostles Parish, which merged the Croatian parish of SS. Peter & Paul with several Hungarian Catholic parishes. Recently, the parish combined with the Cathedral of St. Columba.

“HAP Bingo is part of St. Columba Parish. It has been in continuous operation since 1955 through a very dedicated volunteer base,” Onuska said.

Most of the volunteers have helped out on bingo night for years. One of the newer volunteers, Taylor Garcia, is already a regular helper of almost four years.

“I moved here from Brooklyn, New York for work and I attended Holy Apostle Parish. I really didn’t know anyone or have friends so I started volunteering at HAP Bingo. I love it,” Garcia said.

She likes seeing all of the regulars who now know her by name when they need additional cards or pulltabs.

Onuska remarked on another purpose of the night.

“It is also a form of outreach for our parish. We have people from 18 to 103 years old that come through our door. It is great to see them mix and mingle,” she said.

Julie Tarantino of Austintown said some people have come to Mass if they talk to a volunteer about attending, but it is not a requirement to attend bingo.

“We are open for anyone who wants to enjoy a game of bingo,” Tarantino said. She worked as a volunteer for bingo in all of its numerous locales, including the present one for the past three years.

Monsignor Robert Siffrin, rector of what is called the Youngstown collaborative, stopped by HAP Bingo Friday night to visit with the volunteers and the bingo players to say hello or listen to them. He enjoys the Friday night visits.

HAP bingo night is not a religious gathering, but one of caring. At the end of the night after Cindy Buzin and Shelly Martin, both of Boardman, picked their unsuccessful windows for the Aces are Wild board, there were still smiles and hugs as players greeted volunteers, staff and even the Austintown police officer as they departed.

Friday’s Aces Are Wild drawing has jackpot of $31,000.